The Universe Expands..."Daredevil: Season 2"

Daredevil: Season 2 (2016)

TV-MA

Starring Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Royce Johnson, Jon Bernthal, Elodie Yung, Scott Glenn

Created by Drew Goddard

The Story:

With Wilson Fisk (D'Onofrio) behind bars, you would think life in Hell's Kitchen would slow down. However, there's a new crazy in town, killing bad guys and making a name for himself as The Punisher (Bernthal). Matt (Cox) will have to suit up as Daredevil to try and bring him down before the entire city is bathed in blood. If that wasn't going to be difficult enough, there's another blast from Matt's past just around the corner as Elektra (Yung) comes calling.

Another solid season in the books for Netflix and Marvel.

While there is still some pacing issues that feel like 8-10 solid episodes drag out to 12, it's a bit better this go-round.

I'd even go so far as to say the first 4 episodes are must-see, dynamic storytelling at its finest.

There is a beginning, middle and end to the story that flows just like a perfect comic book story arc.

The problem, once Elektra arrives on the scene, I began to lose interest.

Truth be told, I was never really a fan, and I think I mentioned before that I've never truly cared for Daredevil.

The focus in the storyline shifts, and takes away from the entire Punisher storyline.

I was greatly disappointed that the trial, which could have been 4 riveting episodes on their own felt rushed and shortchanged.

Foggy (Henson) is being criminally underused in the series when he is the glue that holds the show together.

They could have easily worked the trial for 4 episodes, and then put the final 4 episodes on Castle in prison doing what he needs to do to survive and get close to Fisk.

Then you end the season by getting Frank out of jail which leaves the rest of the Elektra story for season 3, and continue Frank's tale in his own series, which thankfully is going to happen.

I'm still not the biggest fan of Karen Page (Woll) but making her a journalist is a great change of pace and one that shakes up the dynamic.

Much like Jessica Jones, I'm really more interested in the supporting cast than the main character.

Because when you pull back from the show and judge it from a distance, Matt Murdock is possibly the biggest jerk in the Marvel Universe right now.

He does what he wants, when he wants to, consequences and friendships be damned.

Plus, I'm willing to suspend belief on what Daredevil can do.

But when he becomes the ultimate super-ninja of all time...

Yeah, I hated that in the comics and it drives me batty on this show as well.

So critical of a show I can't wait to see Season 3 from, right?

:)

Final Grade: A-

She Might Kill Them First... "Madea's Witness Protection"

Madea's Witness Protection (2012)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tyler Perry, Eugene Levy, Denise Richards, Doris Roberts, Tom Arnold

Written and Directed by Tyler Perry

The Story:

An investment banker (Levy) is framed in a Ponzi scheme by his boss (Arnold). His entire family gets relocated to live with Madea (Perry) who's going to teach them some good ol' fashioned family values, and save their lives in the process.

I usually come across pretty hard on Tyler Perry's non-Madea films.

Either too boring, or with just characters that make me want to punch the tv.

:)

I normally say, "not as good as his Madea films".

Then along comes Witness Protection, which most will say is the bottom of the barrel with this franchise.

Meh.

It's not so bad.

Your typical fish out of water as the uptight, dysfunctional New York family is forced to live with Madea and learn to live life on her terms.

This falls in the realm of mostly harmless fun, and as always, Levy is a delight, making movies more enjoyable just by being himself.


Available to stream instantly on Netflix or Amazon Prime

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It's been about 2 years since I last saw it. Harmless mostly. Another few years, might watch the Madea movies again.

Schwing Time! "Wayne's World"

Wayne's World (1992)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere

Directed by Penelope Spheeris

The Story:

Wayne (Meyers) and best friend Garth (Carvey) host a local cable access show from Wayne's basement in Illinois.  When a sleazy businessman (Lowe) gets designs to use their show to promote a local arcade, will success go to the boys' heads?  Or will they stay true to themselves and stick it to the man?

One of many brilliant late 80's / early 90s Saturday Night Live skits that spawned catch phrases into pop culture consciousness and followed with one of the most successful SNL movies of all time.

No way!
Way!!

The movie still is amusing and holds up reasonably well for closing in on 25 years.

25 years?!

Let that one sink in for a moment.

The movie has pure moments of brilliance surrounded by pockets of amusement.

Which, at the end of the day, that's not a bad thing for any comedy.


Meyers and Carvey make the most of their dimwitted duo, and Rob Lowe proves to be exceptionally slimy as the villain of the film.

If it's been a few decades since you last gave it a whirl, well, what are you waiting for?

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Still mostly holds up, but not a huge rush as it's not a definite crowd-pleaser at my place.

Murder Most Fun! "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"

See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)

Rated R for language and nudity

Starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Joan Severance, Kevin Spacey

Directed by Arthur Hiller

The Story:

Wally (Pryor) is blind. Dave (Wilder) is deaf.  They are both witness to a murder committed by Eve (Severance).  The problem, nobody believes them, and when they escape from the police to find the killer themselves, the chase is on!

Hahahahaha... I forgot how funny this movie was.

I really only remembered the line "Fuzzy wuzzy was a woman".

If you've never seen the film before, you'll understand after you watch it.

If you have, it should bring back pleasant memories.

Reuniting Wilder and Pryor was a no-brainer that Hollywood simply failed to take full advantage of.

They teamed with Hiller, their director from the first collaboration, Silver Streak, and once again murder most foul played an important role in the storyline.

Amusingly, the object that everyone is chasing after is almost an afterthought by the end of the film.

Instead, the fun is having a blind and deaf guy chase bad guys across town while evading the police.

There are several hilarious gags that unfold during the film, and Pryor and Wilder sell it like the comedic champs they are.

Also, a very notable, largish role for Kevin Spacey before he became... Kevin Spacey!

Available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Very funny stuff.  It had been about 25 years since I last saw it.  Hopefully I don't wait as long next time.